Heddle transfer stop motion in a triaxial weaving machine

Abstract

In a triaxial weaving machine heddles arranged in opposing rows are shifted in opposite weftwise direction with the leading heddle in each row being transferred to the trailing position in the opposite row. This invention provides means for stopping the weaving process if a heddle being transferred is not, at the end of the transfer operation, aligned with a slot to guide the heddle during a heddle shedding operation.

I claim: 
     
       1. In a weaving machine wherein a heddle is transferred laterally to a trailing end of a weftwise row of laterally shifting heddles and then moved longitudinally in a fixed path to position a warp strand guided thereby at a predetermined location in a warp shed, apparatus for detecting improper positioning of said heddle at the trailing end of said row of heddles, said apparatus comprising a fixed passageway at the trailing end for receiving and grinding longitudinal movement of said heddle into an extended heddle shedding position, transfer means for moving the heddle laterally into alignment with said passageway, and a detector for sensing a predetermined lateral position of said heddle at which the heddle is in substantial alignment with said passageway. 
     
     
       2. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said detector comprises a switch. 
     
     
       3. Apparatus according to claim 2 further comprising a member movable to operate said switch in response to engagement by the heddle in substntial alignment with said passageway. 
     
     
       4. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said detector comprises a solid state position sensing device. 
     
     
       5. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said detector comprises an opto-coupler. 
     
     
       6. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said detector comprises a Hall sensor. 
     
     
       7. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said detector comprises a proximity switch. 
     
     
       8. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said detector comprises a fluidic position sensor. 
     
     
       9. Apparatus according to claim 1 further comprising shedding means for moving said heddle longitudinally, and means enabling said shedding means to move the heddle into said passageway in response to sensing by the detector of said heddle in substantial alignment with the passageway. 
     
     
       10. Apparatus according to claim 1 further comprising shedding means for moving said heddle longitudinally, and means preventing shedding means for moving the heddle toward said passageway in absence of sensing by the detector of said heddle in substantial alignment with the passageway. 
     
     
       11. Apparatus according to claim 1 further comprising means for interrupting the essential weaving operations of the machine, said detector enabling the interrupting means to stop said essential operations in response to sensed absence of alignment of the heddle with said passageway. 
     
     
       12. Apparatus according to claim 1 further comprising means for controlling the essential weaving operations of the machine, and timing means controlled by said controlling means to interrupt energization of said controlling means upon completion of transfer of the heddle, said detector enabled in response to substantial alignment of said heddle with the passageway to prevent interruption of energization of said controlling means. 
     
     
       13. In a weaving machine a heddle, a weftwise row of heddles, means for transferring said heddle laterally to the trailing end of said row of heddles, shedding means for extending said heddle longitudinally to position a warp strand guided thereby into a predetermined location in a warp shed, a stationary passageway adjacent the trailing end of said row of heddles, and means for detecting substantial alignment of said heddle with said passageway after said heddle has been transferred to the trailing end of said row of heddles, said detecting means preventing extension of the heddle by said shedding means in absence of said alignment. 
     
     
       14. A method for preventing malfunction of a weaving machine, said method comprising the steps of transferring a heddle laterally to a position at the trailing end of a weftwise row of heddles moving laterally, sensing absence of alignment of said transferred heddle with a stationary passageway for receiving and guiding said heddle in longitudinal movement from the position, and preventing said longitudinal movement of the heddle in response to said sensed absence of alignment. 
     
     
       15. A method for preventing malfunction of a weaving machine, said method comprising the steps of transferring a heddle laterally to a position at the trailing end of a weftwise row of heddles moving laterally, sensing absence of alignment of said transferred heddle with a stationary passageway for receiving and guiding said heddle in longitudinal movement from the position, and interrupting synchronized weaving operations of said machine in response to the sensed absence of alignment.